The Lao parliament has overwhelmingly elected a new prime minister after the outgoing leader resigned due to ill health, state television reported on Friday.
Sonexay Siphandone, the deputy prime minister, garnered 149 out of 151 votes to become the new prime minister of this small, poor Southeast Asian country.
“I will take the revolutionary spirit to a higher level,” he told the communist deputies. Laos has been a one-party socialist republic since the fall of the monarchy in 1975.
Mr Siphandone replaces Phankham Viphavanh, 71, who has resigned due to ill health.
“At a time when the country is going through more and more difficulties, I am no longer able to bear this heavy burden,” said the latter, who came to power in March 2021.
Laos has been grappling with significant economic problems this year, including an oil shortage and runaway inflation.